Griddle for cooking and preparing foods

ABSTRACT

A griddle for cooking and preparing foods and more specifically a griddle for use with a gas or a propane outdoor grill or barbeque. The griddle can include a cooking surface, a trip tray, a first sidewall, a rear wall, a second sidewall, a first cross brace, and a second cross brace. The first sidewall can include a first upper sidewall and a first lower sidewall. The rear wall can include an upper rear wall and a lower rear wall. The second sidewall can include a second upper sidewall and a second lower sidewall. The griddle can include at least one aperture located in each of the first lower sidewall, the lower rear wall, the second lower sidewall, the first cross brace, and the second cross brace. The griddle can be made of a metal, which can be a stainless steel.

This invention claims priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/724,157 filed on Oct. 6, 2005 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a griddle for cooking and preparing foods and more specifically a stainless steel griddle for use with a gas or a propane outdoor grill or barbeque.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When cooking or preparing food outdoors using, for example, a gas or propane outdoor grill or barbeque, there are foods which cannot be placed or easily placed directly on the cooking surface of the grill. Some examples include stir fry, tofu, eggs, hash browns, pancakes, most fish, and many vegetables.

When cooking such foods it becomes necessary to use, for example, aluminum foil placed on the cooking surface of the grill. However, cooking on aluminum foil has drawbacks. The drawbacks of cooking on aluminum foil include its relative flimsiness in addition to possible health concerns associated with aluminum. Another alternative is to use a pot or a pan on a side burner of the grill, if the grill is so equipped. However, this requires one to have a grill with a side burner. Additionally, using another burner increases fuel consumption.

Thus, it would be advantageous to be able to cook any food on a gas or propane grill or barbeque without using aluminum foil or a side burner.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a griddle for cooking and preparing foods and more specifically a griddle for use with a gas or a propane outdoor grill or barbeque. The griddle includes a cooking surface, a drip tray, a first sidewall, a rear wall, a second sidewall, a first cross brace, and a second cross brace. The griddle is formed from a stainless steel material.

The drip tray includes a front wall, a bottom, and a rear wall. The front wall, the bottom, and the rear wall of the drip tray are sealingly attached to the first sidewall and to the second sidewall. The drip tray is integrally formed with the cooking surface.

The first sidewall includes a first upper sidewall and a first lower sidewall. The first upper sidewall is integrally formed with the cooking surface. The first lower sidewall includes at least one aperture to allow flow of heat and of oxygen beneath the griddle.

The rear wall includes an upper rear wall and a lower rear wall. The upper rear wall is integrally formed with the cooking surface. The lower rear wall includes at least one aperture to allow flow of heat and oxygen beneath the griddle.

The second sidewall includes a second upper sidewall and a second lower sidewall. The second upper sidewall is integrally formed with the cooking surface. The second lower sidewall includes at least one aperture to allow flow of heat and of oxygen beneath the griddle.

The first cross brace and the second cross brace each include at least one aperture to allow flow of heat and of oxygen beneath the griddle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a griddle for cooking foods;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the griddle;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the griddle;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the griddle;

FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of the griddle;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are side elevational views of a first cross-brace and a second cross brace, respectively, of the griddle; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a lower band of the griddle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawing, there is depicted one aspect of a griddle 10 suitable for cooking and preparing food on a grill or a barbeque. The griddle 10 includes a generally rectangular cooking surface 12 and a catch or drip tray 14. The griddle 10 also includes a first or left sidewall 16, a rear wall 18, and a second or right sidewall 20.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5, the drip tray 14 includes a front wall 22, a bottom 24 and a rear wall 26. The purpose of the drip tray 14 is to keep fats and oils from cooking, for example, out of the grill or the barbeque beneath the griddle 10. The drip tray 14 can be integrally formed with the cooking surface 12 using a metal forming press or any other such suitable method as is known in the industry.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-4, the first sidewall 16 includes a first upper sidewall 28 and a first lower sidewall 30. The first upper sidewall 28 is sealingly attached to the cooking surface 12. The first upper sidewall 28 can be integrally formed with the cooking surface 12 using a metal forming press or any other such suitable method as is known in the industry. The first upper sidewall 28 prevents food from falling or spilling off the cooking surface 12 of the griddle 10.

The first lower sidewall 30 includes at least one aperture or slot 32. The at least one slot 32 is generally rectangular shaped and is located proximate to the cooking surface 12. The slot 32 allows heat to flow evenly beneath the cooking surface 12 and also allows oxygen to flow beneath the griddle 10 to the grill or the barbeque. This flow of heat and of oxygen promotes uniform cooking of the food on the cooking surface 12. The first lower sidewall 30 is sealingly attached to the front wall 22, the bottom 24, and the rear wall 26 of the drip trap 14.

The rear wall 18 of the griddle 10 includes an upper rear wall 34 and a lower rear wall 36. The upper rear wall 34 is sealingly attached. The upper rear wall 34 can be integrally formed with the cooking surface 12 using a metal forming press or any other such suitable method as is known in the industry. The upper rear wall 34 prevents food from falling off the rear of the cooking surface 12 of the griddle 10. The lower rear wall 36 includes at least one slot 32 located proximate to the cooking surface 12 to allow for flow of heat and oxygen beneath the cooking surface 12 and the griddle 10.

The second sidewall 20 includes a second upper sidewall 38 and a second lower sidewall 40. The second upper sidewall 38 is sealingly attached to the cooking surface 12. The second upper sidewall 38 can be integrally formed with the cooking surface 12 using a metal forming press or any other such suitable method as is known in the industry. The second upper sidewall 38 prevents food from falling or spilling off the cooking surface 12 of the griddle 10.

The second lower sidewall 40 includes at least one slot 32 located proximate to the cooking surface 12 to allow for flow of heat and oxygen beneath the cooking surface 12 and the griddle 10. The second lower sidewall 40 is sealingly attached to the front wall 22, the bottom 24, and the rear wall 26 of the drip trap 14.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first lower sidewall 30, the rear lower wall 34, and the second lower sidewall 40 comprise a lower band 42. The lower band 42 including the first lower sidewall 30, the rear lower wall 34, and the second lower sidewall 40 is formed from a piece of sheet strip metal, for example. The lower band 42 is then bent along lines A-A and B-B to generally form three sides of a rectangle. The lower band 42 is then attached to the cooking surface 12. The lower band can be attached to the cooking surface 12 by MIG welding or any other suitable method as is known in the industry.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5-6, the griddle 10 includes a first cross brace 44 and a second cross brace 46. The first cross brace 44 and the second cross brace 46 are shown in phantom in FIG. 5. The first cross brace 44 and the second cross brace 46 are attached to a bottom surface 48 of the cooking surface 12 and are attached to the first lower sidewall 30, the lower rear wall 34, and the second lower sidewall 40. The first cross brace 44 and the second cross brace 46 each include at least one slot 32 located proximate to the bottom surface 48.

The first cross brace 44 and the second cross brace 46 are arranged in a generally X-shaped formation. An aperture or slot 50 of the first cross brace 44 is interlockingly received by an aperture or slot 52 of the second cross brace 46. The first cross brace 44 and the second cross brace 46 can be attached to the bottom surface 48, the first lower sidewall 30, the lower rear wall 34, the second lower sidewall 40, and to each other by MIG welding or any other suitable method as is known in the industry. The first cross brace 44 and the second cross brace 46 prevent twisting or warping of the griddle 10 and the griddle surface 12 and increase rigidity of the griddle surface 12.

Now referring to FIG. 5, the cooking surface 12 can include a logo or branded area 54. The logo area 54 can be, for example, embossed with a logo of a manufacturer of the griddle 10 or of a customer of the griddle 10.

The griddle 10 is preferably formed of a non-reactive metal material, which can be, for example, a steel. The steel more particularly can be a stainless steel, which can be, by way of example and not limitation, stainless steel sheet. The material description can be, for example, 430-2B cooking grade stainless steel. The material thickness can be 14-gauge or 0.075 inches with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.005 inches. The material of the griddle 10 preferably allows a cooking range approximately from 150 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law. 

1. A griddle for cooking foods on an outdoor grill or barbeque comprising: a cooking surface; a drip tray integrally formed with the cooking surface; a first sidewall including a first upper sidewall and a first lower sidewall; a second sidewall including a second upper sidewall and a second lower sidewall; and a rear wall including an upper rear wall and a lower rear wall, wherein the first upper sidewall, the second upper sidewall, and the upper rear wall extend above the cooking surface and wherein the first lower sidewall, the second lower sidewall and lower rear wall extend below the cooking surface for elevating the cooking surface above the grill or barbeque and forming peripheral edges of a cavity below the cooking surface, said first lower sidewall, second lower sidewall and lower rear wall each having a slot therethrough for allowing the flow of heat and oxygen beneath the cooking surface.
 2. The griddle of claim 1 further comprising at least one brace extending between opposing peripheral edges of the cavity.
 3. The griddle of claim 2, wherein a pair of braces arranged in an X-shaped formation extend between opposing peripheral edges of the cavity for increasing rigidity of the cooking surface.
 4. The griddle of claim 2, wherein the at least one brace is attached to a bottom surface of the cooking surface and has at least one slot located proximate to the bottom surface for assisting the flow of heat and oxygen.
 5. The griddle of claim 3, wherein the pair of braces are attached to a bottom surface of the cooking surface and said pair of braces have at least one slot located proximate to the bottom surface for assisting the follow of heat and oxygen.
 6. The griddle of claim 1, wherein the first lower sidewall, the second lower sidewall and the lower rear wall are formed from a single band of metal material bent to form three sides of a rectangle having lengths coinciding with peripheral edges of the cooking surface, wherein said hand band is attached to the cooking surface.
 7. The griddle of claim 1 wherein the drip tray is located opposite the rear wall, said drip tray having a front wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall.
 8. The griddle of claim 7 wherein portions of the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall form sidewalls for the drip tray.
 9. The griddle of claim 1, wherein the first upper sidewall, second upper sidewall and upper rear wall are integrally formed with the cooking surface.
 10. A griddle for cooking foods on an outdoor grill or barbeque comprising: a cooking surface; a first sidewall including a first upper sidewall and a first lower sidewall; a second sidewall including a second upper sidewall and a second lower sidewall; a rear wall including an upper rear wall and a lower rear wall, wherein the first upper sidewall, the second upper sidewall, and the upper rear wall are integrally formed with the cooking surface and extend above the cooking surface, wherein the first lower sidewall, the second lower sidewall and the lower rear wall extend below the cooking surface for elevating the cooking surface above the grill or barbeque and forming a cavity beneath the cooking surface, said first lower sidewall, second lower sidewall and lower rear wall each having a slot therethrough for allowing the flow of heat and oxygen beneath the cooking surface; a pair of braces arranged in an X-shaped formation extend between opposing peripheral edges of the cavity for increasing the rigidity of the cooking surface, said pair of braces attached to a bottom surface of the cooking surface and said pair of braces having at least one slot therethrough located proximate to the bottom surface for assisting the flow of heat and oxygen; and a drip tray located opposite of the rear wail and integrally formed with the cooking surface, said drip tray having a front wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall and wherein portions of the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall form sidewalls for the drip tray.
 11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. The griddle of claim 10, wherein the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall are sealingly attached to the front wall, the bottom wall and the rear wall of the drip tray.
 14. A cooking griddle for use on top of a heat source, the griddle comprising: a cooking surface; a sidewall connected to and extending above the cooking surface; a drip tray connected to at least one of the sidewall and the cooking surface and positioned to receive liquids flowing off of the cooking surface; and a separate and independent lower wall connected to at least one of the sidewall and the cooking surface, at least a portion of the lower wall extending below the cooking surface to elevate the cooking surface above the heat source.
 15. The cooking griddle of claim 14 wherein the cooking surface is substantially rectangular shaped and integrally formed with the sidewall, the sidewall comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a rear wall connecting the first and the second sidewalls.
 16. The cooking griddle of claim 15 wherein the lower wall comprises a first lower sidewall, a second lower sidewall, and a lower rear wall respectively connected to the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the rear wall defining a cavity below the cooking surface.
 17. The cooking griddle of claim 16 wherein at least two of the first lower sidewall, the second lower sidewall and the lower rear wall each define at least two elongate through slot openings positioned adjacent the cooking surface in communication with the cavity to promote the circulation of heat below the cooking surface.
 18. The cooking griddle of claim 16 wherein the first lower sidewall and the second lower sidewall closingly connect to and define respective opposing ends of the drip tray.
 19. The cooking griddle of claim 18 wherein the drip tray is integrally formed with the cooking surface.
 20. The cooking griddle of claim 17 further comprising at least one brace at least partially positioned in the cavity and connected to the cooking surface, the brace having at least one through opening in communication with the cavity to promote the circulation of heat below the cooking surface.
 21. The cooking griddle of claim 20 wherein the at least one brace comprises two opposing braces wherein each brace further comprises: at least two tabs extending toward and connecting to the cooking surface forming at least two elongate through slot openings adjacent the cooking surface in communication with the cavity; and a vertical through slot for interlocking receipt of the other brace forming a substantially planer bottom surface for stable placement of the griddle on the heat source thereby elevating the cooking surface above the heat source.
 22. The cooking griddle of claim 15 wherein each of the first sidewall, the second sidewall and the rear wall are substantially planar. 